All posts tagged Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

Coy love songs are not usually Fiona Apple’s forte, but she’s a natural on a new version of the vintage tune “I’m in the Middle of a Riddle” that Apple shares with her sister, the cabaret singer Maude Maggart. The song, premiering today on Speakeasy, is part of “Sweetheart 2014,” a Valentine’s Day compilation of classic love songs recorded by the likes of Jim James, Beck, Vampire Weekend, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and more.

The Austrian composer Anton Karas, best known for his zither-based soundtrack to the 1949 film noir “The Third Man,” wrote the song, which he first recorded with singer Kay Armen in 1950 during a stay in the United States (hear their version here).

Apple and Maggart sing gorgeous intertwining vocal harmonies in their take on the song, a delicate, elegant rendition that hews close to the sensibility of Karas’ waltz-time original version.

Sharon Jones, the firebrand singer of the Dap-Kings, this morning announced that she’s been diagnosed with stage-one bile-duct cancer. Surgery and recovery will necessitate the postponement of the Brooklyn-based group’s album “Give the People What They Want,” which was to be released on August 6, and the subsequent tour.

Said Jones in a statement: ”Over the last few weeks I haven’t felt good and I didn’t know what was going on. We sadly had to cancel shows while I went through a series of tests and short hospital stays. We just found out that I have a stage-one tumor on my bile duct. Luckily we caught it really early and fast and the doctors say it’s operable and curable!”

“I will be having surgery very soon and will have to rest and recover. I’ll be staying in touch and keeping my fans and friends updated on my progress. I’m looking forward to getting back on the road to give the people what they want!”” Read More »

Two weeks ago, actress and singer Patti LuPone grabbed a cell phone out of the hand of an audience member who was texting during a performance of her current play, "Shows for Days." The bold move led to an outpouring of support from fans fed up with glowing screens. Ms. LuPone gives us her five rules of theater etiquette.